“I am not opposed, in principle, to the building of the Keystone XL pipeline, and I look forward to the completion of the ordinary regulatory approval process for this project. However, I voted against this legislation because it would give the Keystone XL pipeline an unnecessary exemption from the environmental permitting processes, at a time when even the pipeline route is uncertain,” said Foster.

Foster also voted in favor of an amendment to require the project to pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, a fund which is used to clean up after pipeline oil spills and fires on U.S. soil. Unfortunately this amendment was defeated on a largely party-line basis.

“This legislation carves out special exemptions that would allow a Canadian company to cross the entire United States without complying with the environmental laws that U.S. energy companies abide by; without requiring that they pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund; and without guaranteeing that any of the oil pumped through the Keystone XL pipeline would stay in the United States,” Foster added.

“The White House is taking a responsible approach to approving the Keystone XL pipeline and is on track to meet all of the regulatory obligations. Congress needs to allow the administration to complete the necessary reviews which ensure essential protections are in place.”